Venezuelan food consists of several authentic dishes belonging to the region. Most of the traditional dishes belonging to the Venezuelan cuisine include fishes and shellfishes. The main dish of the Venezuelans is the pabellon which consists of shredded, stewed meat along with rice, black beans and bananas.Venezuelan food also varies from region to region with the Eastern states preferring fish while the Western states utilize more of goat meat. The Andean region is particularly popular for its unique Venezuelan food which includes the Arepa or wheat cake and the local trucha or trout dishes.Venezuelan cuisine is influenced by a number of European cuisines along with Native American and African traditional cuisines.
Historical And Cultural Influences On Venezuelan Cuisine
The modern day Venezuelan cuisine shows a mixture of influences from the local Indian, African and European cuisines. The Caribbean influence is also unusually strong in Venezuelan food with the use of sweet peppers, garlic, onions and spices being favored by the Venezuelans
Ingredients Commonly Used In Venezuelan Food
· Corn- Is used as the staple food in Venezuela.
· Fish- Fried or grilled fish form one of the main dishes at every Venezuelan meal with trouts, baby sharks, red snapper, oysters and prawns being strong favorites.
· Fruits- A number of locally grown fruits like mangoes, bananas, papayas, melons, avocados and coconuts being used widely in Venezuelan food preparations.
· Cooking Methods Adopted In Venezuela
· Boling, grilling and steaming are the main methods implemented in Venezuelan cooking. Deep frying or unhealthy cooking methods are not adopted as a rule in the culinary practices of Venezuela.
Venezuelan Recipes Popular in Foreign Culture
• Cachapa- a popular Venezuelan food made from corn, it is often sold on roadside stalls.
• Arepa- A staple food of Venezuela, the arepas are prepared from ground corn or wheat.
• Polo Assado- A traditional dish of roast chicken dish of Venezuela that has gained popularity at International food festivals.
Festive And Special Venezuelan Foods
• Hallaca- A pie made of corn meal, stuffed with pork, chicken, olives and raisins all wrapped in plantain leaves.
• Dulce de lechoza con terrine de queso- A syrup prepared with green papaya and cheese.
• Bienmesabe- A Venezuelan Food made with ground almonds, eggs and lemon rind that is served as the traditional Venezuelan dessert.
Popular Chefs of Venezuela
Chef Tamara Rodriquez is a well known food expert from Venezuela who tours the world taking part in various Venezuelan gastronomic festivals.
Venezuelan Cuisine: Trivia
Venezuelan Food has made the region popular as the culinary capital of Latin America.